Ford revealed last week a new instrument cluster that is energy-conscious and has many interactive leaves-for its Milan and Fusion Hybrids.  Well, apparently Ford and Honda hired the same analysts, because Honda just debuted a system that is very similar.

Honda’s new Ecological Drive Assist System, or Eco Assist, will be available this spring on the Honda Insight.  The system utilizes a two-tier instrument cluster (much like the Civics) to communicate driving habits that are effective.  Depending on the way you are driving, the background color of the speedometer will change-blue for braking and rapid acceleration, and green for cruising and light acceleration.

The information screen that is inside the tachometer is an LED screen that scores your driving habits.  Your mastery over hypermiling is signified by the number of leaves that show on the display.

Also featured in the system is an “ECON” button.  When this button is switched on, the transmission, regenerative braking, and powertrain are optimized to make the most of fuel consumption.

Honda’s system is downscaled in comparison to Ford’s, but that is probably because the Honda Insight is going to be the cheapest hybrid out there.  Regardless, make sure you have a good auto warranty, because you never know when new technology will fail and you don’t want to be left with unnecessary repair expenses.

A recent survey shows that only 29% of teenagers receive their licenses when they become eligible.  This is considerably down from 1998 in which 43% of teens received their licenses when they were eligible.  This is almost a 50% decrease in ten years.

Some reasons that the numbers have changed are parents who are willing to drive teens, an increase in insurance and gas prices, tighter laws, and changes in driver education.

Teenagers don’t have as many options for taking driver education as in the past.  Currently, only 20 % of schools offer driver’s education, which means students have to seek a private school or a program on the Internet.

Increasing insurance costs make it more difficult for teens to drive.  A typical insurance policy cost 80 to 100 percent more if a 16-year-old driver is on the policy.

Graduated driver laws for licenses are also causing teens to take their time getting behind the wheel.  These laws are intended to reduce car crashes in teens.

Teens are waiting to get their drivers licenses.  However, no matter what age they become licensed, they need to take precautions to protect themselves.  This includes acting responsibly, eliminating distractions, and purchasing an auto warranty.

According to The American Consumer Satisfaction Index, the results from its Q2 aren’t good for domestic auto manufacturers.  The people at ASCI claim that customer satisfaction is higher than ever for the whole industry, however there aren’t any American automakers that made the top four.  And the bottom three on the list are made in America.

Domestic car companies are having problems because they are lagging further behind their counterparts overseas.  This will be of no help when the Big Three lose more power with pricing.  They will have to continue their dependency on discounting and rebates, in a car market where consumers are deciding to turn to foreign cars.  People feel foreign cars are more reliable, and with the addition of an auto warranty, they enjoy the peace of mind that they get with them.

The ACSI is a representation of a customer’s overall satisfaction, which includes customer service and doesn’t necessarily determine the quality of cars.  In addition, carmakers don’t have any control over a dealership’s customer service.

A recall has been issued by Kia of 6,680 of the Rondo EX and LX minivans from the model years 2008 and 2009.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there may be a defective fuel pump for the four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine, which may not be able to get enough fuel effectively to the engine.

This could result in engine hesitation or failure of the engine starting correctly, which might endanger motorists if the problem gets progressively worse.  If the problem occurs, the check engine light coming on may alert drivers.

If you have a 2008 or 2009 Kia Rondo, Kia will replace your fuel pump free of charge.  Vehicle owners can also call Kia at 1-800-333-4542.  Taking care of the problem right away may save you trouble in the future.

Unfortunately, you never know when your car will fail, which is why an auto warranty is a must. However, listening for recall alerts can also save you from unnecessary car problems.

If you’re planning to purchase a used vehicle you need to find out as much as you can about it and purchase used car warranties.  The car could have problems that you can’t detect by looking at it.  In order to understand the car that you are getting, get a vehicle history report.  This will give you combined information from DMVs, RMVs, and police reports about the car that you are looking at.  Here are some things to consider when looking at the vehicle report.

Determine if the car has had many owners.  You are better off with a car that has had fewer owners because there is more of a likelihood that the car has been taken good care of.  Although inexpensive, rental cars will have undergone a great deal of abuse.

Also, consider the location that the car has been in.  This is important because some climates are harsher on cars.  For example, winter conditions are hard on cars because of salty roads.  Obviously, excessive heat and flood areas are also of concern.

Finally, make sure that the name and description on the history report actually match the vehicle you’re looking at.  This will help avoid types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.

A used car is a great way for people to save money and get a great car.  Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good buy.  You need to consider the costs of used car warranties, auto insurance, and maintenance costs.  An auto warranty is a good way to get peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.

The Prius has become one of the hottest vehicles in the country.  This is actually quite amazing because this is a hybrid electric vehicle, which requires people to embrace change. With any change, people like to protect themselves.  Many people feel better purchasing a hybrid if they have an auto warranty to go along with it. The billion-dollar question that innovators face is whether people will resist or embrace innovation.  Apparently, Toyota got it right, because thousands of people are buying the Prius.

People accustomed to a regular vehicle would struggle to get the Prius to move forward.  In addition, people probably couldn’t figure out how to put the car in reverse.  However, these are not hard lessons to learn, they just require people to change their way of thinking.  To start the Prius you press a button located on the dashboard twice.  To make your car go forward or backward you manipulate a small stick that comes out of the dashboard.

People might fear technology because it is seductive, yet they might also have a fear of not being able to change. Either way, it is good to protect yourself.  This includes purchasing new car warranties that will cover you in the case of faulty technology.  Innovators never really know which way the cash register will ring.  However, Toyota got it right with the Prius.

BMW is now running an impressive 0.9% financing deal, which makes it a great time to buy a BMW complete with an auto warranty.  This is especially true since BMW will be raising its prices an average of 2% for the 2009 model year.  Other than the 3 Series, most BMW models will not have any changes for the 2009 model year, which makes the price increase fairly annoying for BMW customers.

BMW claims that their prices are going up because of the high cost of raw materials, and that the majority of car manufacturers generally raise their prices about 1%-3% on unchanged models annually.

Be aware that there are some option packages that have changed, which can have a drastic effect on the price of a BMW.  Cars that won’t be back for the 2009 model year are the M4 roadster and coupe and the Z4 roadster and coupe.  It has been reported that there will be a redesigned roadster ready in 2010.

After a great deal of excitement for several months about the new El Camino looking vehicle by Pontiac, and a lot of speculation that the vehicle might even use the El Camino name, Pontiac has chosen a name: G8 ST.

G8 comes from the fact that this sporty truck has been based on the car platform of the G8, and ST means that it’s a sport truck.

Pontiac had a national contest to come up with a name for the truck.  They had to sift through approximately 18,000 names by almost 90,000 submissions in its contest called ‘Tame the Name’.  G8 ST was one of the suggestions that were the most popular, which kept with a trend for easy-to-remember, simple names.

The new G8 ST will be sold late in 2009 as a model that is 2010.  Although information about the price of the car and the auto warranty haven’t been released.  This vehicle has a 361-hp, 6.0-liter V-8, and has active fuel management that has the ability to shut off four cylinders if they aren’t needed.

Recently, J.D. Power and Associates conducted a study, finding that now that the EPA has changed how it tests cars, motorists are finding that they get better mileage out of their cars than what was advertised.  This comes as a pleasant surprise, since drivers find themselves with lots of driving costs, such as used car warranties and maintenance.

Before the EPA decided to update its methods to reflect a more accurate view of modern driving conditions, motorists were consistently reporting that their combined average for fuel economy was less than the EPA rating advertised.

For example, before the update, back in 2007, motorists claimed that they got around 97% of the fuel economy that was advertised.  This was 3% worse than what was advertised.  And after the new standards for testing were implemented in 2008, motorists claimed they got around 105% of the fuel economy posted.

For drivers who are money conscious and calculate driving costs, such as insurance, auto warranty costs, and gas costs, they will have a pleasant surprise with their gas mileage.

Why would someone want to buy a pickup?  They offer the most flexibility in carrying cargo.  In addition, pickups have large payload facilities and the ability to tow.  Trucks with four door cabs allow seating for five, which makes them a good family vehicle.  In addition to an auto warranty, what other considerations do you need?  Here’s a list.

Consider whether you need compact or full-sized.  They offer different towing capacities and engines in addition to being different sizes.  Compact pickups are more fuel-efficient, easier to park, and cost less.  Full-sized pickups offer more room inside and out, have stronger engines, and have greater towing capabilities.

Bed lengths vary.  Beds range from 8 feet to 4 feet.  The longer the bed, the more difficult it is to maneuver.  Some compact trucks have a bed extender that flips out, which allows for carrying cargo that is longer.

Engines and transmissions can accommodate different needs.  For compact trucks, the base engine is a four-cylinder, which offers fuel-efficiency.  Five or six cylinder engines are optional, giving more power.  A V6 is the base engine for a full-sized truck.  For heavy towing and hauling consider a V8, V10, and diesel.

Pickups come in many sizes, with many options. Determine your use for a truck and pick the best option for you.  Doing your homework on such things as truck options, new car warranties and insurance will save you money and time down the road.